Basket Weave Blanket

My daughter's boyfriend wanted a blanket. I let him pick out the colors and the pattern. He chose a basket weave design in 4-colored squares. I have to admit, when I first got started on this labor of love (it took about 2 months to finish), I had serious doubts. The colors reminded me of the Partridge Family bus from my childhood. I was struggling with the design - which colors to put together, whether I wanted to make vertical rows or diagonal rows of the same colors, etc. - but Shayne made it clear that he wanted the final pattern to be completely random. Being the type A person that I am, even that concept had me nervous! Now that it's completed, though, I have to give credit to Shayne. Somehow the colors worked. Somehow that randomness found it's way into the final product. Even my dog Dublin liked the way it turned out. :)

This blanket is a total of 40 completed 8" x 8" squares. I used Loops & Threads "Charisma - Basic Bulky" acrylic yarn in true red, yellow, electric blue, and charcoal, and a size H (8) crochet hook.

BASKET WEAVE SQUARES

R1: Ch 28
R2: DC in 4th ch from hook and remaining chains (26 DC)
R3: Ch 2, turn. DC in next st. *FPdc in next 4 sts; BPdc in next 4 sts* repeat across to last st, DC in last st.
R4: Repeat R3.
R5: Ch 2, turn. DC in next st. *BPdc in next 4 sts; FPdc in next 4 stst* repeat across to last st, DC in last st.
R6: Repeat R5.
R7-18: Repeat 2 rows each of R3 and then R5.

You should now have a square of equal sides.

FINISHING: Ch 1, turn, SC across 25 sts, 3 SC in the final stitch, turn the corner and SC across 25 sts, 3 SC in the final stitch, etc., until you have completed the SC edging. SL in the first SC and fasten off.

CONNECTING SQUARES: Lay out the pattern on the floor and slip stitch squares together using a crochet needle and yarn by matching edges of the squares together.

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